§3-8-5e. Precandidacy financing and expenditures.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, it is
lawful for a person, otherwise qualified to be a candidate for any
public office or position to be determined by public election, to
receive contributions or make expenditures, or both, personally or
by another individual acting as a treasurer, to determine the
advisability of becoming such a candidate or preparing to be such
a candidate: Provided, That such contributions may be received and
such expenditures made only during the four years immediately
preceding the term for which such person may be a candidate or
during the term of office immediately preceding the term for which
such person may be a candidate, whichever is less: Provided,
however, That no person is disqualified from receiving
contributions or making expenditures as permitted under the
provisions of this section solely because such person then holds a
public office or position.

(b) Any person undertaking to determine the advisability of
becoming or preparing to be a candidate, who desires to receive
contributions before filing a certificate of candidacy, shall name
himself or another individual to act as a treasurer and shall file
a designation of treasurer in the manner provided in section four
of this chapter before receiving any contributions permitted by
this section. Any expenditures made before the filing of a
designation of treasurer shall be reported in accordance with the
provisions of this section, regardless of the source of funds used for such expenditures.

(c) A person who receives a contribution who is acting for and
by himself or as treasurer or agent for another pursuant to the
provisions of this section shall keep detailed accounts of every
sum of money or other thing of value received by him, and of all
expenditures and disbursements made, and liabilities incurred, in
the same manner as such accounts are required by section five of
this article, for the period prior to the date of filing for
candidacy for the office he is considering seeking. Any person who
has received contributions or made expenditures subject to the
provisions of this section shall file annually on the last Saturday
in March or within six days thereafter preceding the election at
which the names of candidates would appear on the ballot for the
public office or position which the person originally considered
seeking, a detailed itemized statement setting forth all
contributions received and expenditures made pursuant to the
provisions of this section concerning the candidacy of that person.
If the person on whose behalf such contributions are received or
expenditures are made becomes a candidate for any office or
position to be decided at such election then the itemized statement
shall be included within the first statement required to be filed
by the provisions of section five of this article. If such person
does not become a candidate for any office or position to be
decided at such election, then the detailed itemized statements
required by this subsection shall be the only statements required to be filed by such person. Regardless of whether such person
becomes a candidate as originally intended, or becomes a candidate
for some office other than the office or position originally
intended, or does not become a candidate, all limits on campaign
contributions and campaign expenditures applicable to the candidacy
of or advocacy of the candidacy of such person for the office he
actually seeks, shall be applicable to and inclusive of the
receipts had and expenditures made during such precandidacy period
as well as after the person becomes a candidate.